Wringer mop structure



June 19, 1956 1 H, TRINDL 2,750,613

WRINGER MOP STRUCTURE Filed June l5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EL] HZLZJE June 19, 1956 J. H. TRINDI. 2,750,613

WRINGER MOP STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l5, 1950 l-zI/E ZTZZLUT rse/o/z H. Tra'ndl Eg Hihi.;

United States Patent VVRlNG-ER MP STRUCTURE Joseph H. Trindl, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 13, 1950, Serial No. 167,840

Claims. (Cl. 'l5- 119) This invention relates to improvements in wringer mop :structures and more particularly relates `to such a structure wherein the mopping, or cleaning element is formed from :a :block of compressible material which may be squeezed dry without touching the cleaningelement with the hands.

Heretofore, various forms of wringer mops using a mopping or cleaning element formed from a block of :compressible cellulose material have been in use. The present mops of this type, however, have had vcertain disadvantageous features in that it has been diicult to pro Avide a wringer which will-completley squeeze the mop element so as to expel the dirty water therefrom, such former wringers usually squeezing a Vlarge yportion of the water into the-mop element and Ileaving an objectionable amount of dirty `water in lthe mop element which cannot be expelled except iby washing and -by a number of wringing operations. This is particularly apparent with the types of wringer mops which comprise two hinged plates having the cleaning element secured thereto. One reason for this is that when wringing the mop by pivotally moving the plates toward each other, to ypress out the water, there will be a congested zone adjacent the hinge resulting in an excessive amount of pressure on the cleaning element near the hinge with insumcient pressure toward the outer edges of plates to expel the water from the edges of the mopping element. This excessive pressure on the cleaning element near the hinge further not only .presses the dirty water into the cleaning element, `but the pressure on the element itself is such that it tends to loosen it from its fastening means and materially shortens its life.

By my present invention I remedy the deficiencies heretofore present in wringer mops by so forming the hinged mop plates that excessive pressures are relieved from the moppi-ng element adjacent the hinge -of the mop, and the squeezing pressure is toward the fastening of the cleaning element to the mop plates.

An object of my invention is, therefore, to .provide a new and improved form of .hinged type wringer-.type mop so arranged as to relieve excessive pressures from the mop element near the hinge of the mop and to squeeze the mop element ytoward the mop plates during the wringing operation.

A further and more detailed yobject of my invention -is Ato provide a new and improved form of hinge type cellulose sponge wringer mop utili-zing two mop plates of 4an arcaute formation having the mop element secured to a concave portion thereof at laterally spaced points lso as to `relieve congestion and excessive pressures on the mop .element at the hinge of the plates.

Another `object of my invention is to provide a more ecient and simpler form of hinge-type mop than formerly so arranged that the wringing loperation lmay be effected by a simple link and lever arrangement yoperated from a point remote from the mop, so las to avoid the necessity of stooping to wring the mop over a pail.

A still further object `of my invention is to provide a novel and' improved form of -hinge type wringer mop Ice wherein excessive pressures on the mop element adjacent the hinge are reduced by longitudinally separating the mop along the hinge, and by locating the axis of the hinge within the boundaries of the mop element.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- On the drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a mop constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a view Vsomewhat similar to Figure l, but showing the mop head hinged to squeeze dirty water from the mop element;

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear end View of the mop shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the mop shown in Figure l with the handle thereof broken away;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the mop drawn to the same scale as Figure 5 and showing the mop plates in an extreme closed position for squeezing water from the mop.

ln the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, a hinged mop head 10 is shown as comprising two hinged mop plates 11 and i2 having a mop element 13 secured thereto adjacent the outer margins thereof. The mop plates 11 and 12 are each of an arcuate formation, as will hereinafter be more clearly described as this specification proceeds and interleave at their adjacent ends. The interleaving portions of said plates are herein shown as being curved downwardly at a relatively sharp angle and as being turned inwardly to form substantially cylindrical bearings for a hinge pin 14, connecting said mop plates together. A hollow handle socket l5 is herein shown as being secured to the forward mop plate 12 and as extending rearwardly therefrom in an angular direction. A handle 16 is carried by said socket in a usual manner. It should here be understood that the socket 1S need not be secured to said front plate, but may be secured to said rear plate as well.

T wo'spaced ears ifi-17 are shown as extending upwardly from the mop plate 11 within a hollow recessed under portion 19 of the handle socket 15. A nut and bolt 2G is shown as being mounted in the spaced ears 17-17 to form a pivotal pin, pivotally connecting a rounded inwardly and upwardly turned end 2i of a wringer link 22 to the rnop plate l1. The opposite end of the link 22 extends between the furcations of a bifurcated portion 23 of a wringer lever 24 and is pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, as by a nut and bolt 25. The wringer lever 24 is herein shown as being pivotally mounted to the handle adjacent the ends of the furcations thereof on the legs of a substantially U-shaped bracket 27, by means of a nut and lbolt indicated generally by reference numeral 29. The hanger 27 may be secured to the handle as by a machine screw 30 extending therethrough and threaded within the hanger and locked thereon in a suitable manner, such as a lock nut (not shown), or by peening over the end of the screw.

lt should here be noted with reference to Figures l and 3 that when the mop plates 11 and 12 are in an extended position, the wringer link 22 extends between the furcations of the operating lever 24 and that the points of pivotal connection of said link to the hinge plate 11 and the operating lever 24 are oit-center with respect to the pivotal axis of said operating lever, thus providing a self-locking wringing means which holds the mop plates in extended relation with respect to each other during the mopping operation. It should further be noted that the ears 1'7-17 are close to the hinge of the plates and extend within the recessed hollow portion of the mop socket i5, so as to permit the use of a single link and lever to pivot the mop plates with respect to each other and squeeze water from the mopping element. This arrangement also maintains the operating parts for the wringer within the limits of the mop and thus avoids the scratching of the furniture or base boards during the mopping operation.

Referring now in particular to the novel form of the mop plates 11 and 12 and the mounting of the mop eiement 13 thereon, each of said mop plates is herein shown as being formed in transverse section about an arc of relatively long radius for a greater portion of the width of the mop plate and about a substantially shorter radius adjacent the inner sides of the mop plate and the hinge pin lll. This recesses said hinge pin and the interleaving hinged portions of said plates beneath the top surface of the mop element and causes said plates to draw away from the center of the mopping element, during the wringing operation, and prevents congestion of the mopping clement in the region of the hinge, and thus relieves the mopping element from excessive pressures in this region. lt also causes thc wringing pressures on the mop element to be adjacent the outer ends of the mop element in directions toward the mop plates.

The mop element 13 may be made from a block of compressible material such as a natural, or cellulose sponge, or any other like material, and is herein shown as comprising a rectangular block of cellulose sponge which is separated longitudinally adjacent the upper portion thereof and as having the hinge connecting thc plates 11 and l2 together recessed therein. The longitudinal separation of the sponge may be formed merely by slitting the sponge along its length at a depth slightly greater than the depth of the hinge, but is herein shown as being a slot extending longitudinally along the top of the sponge. A fabric backing member 3l is shown as extending therein and as being secured thereto and extending beyond opposite sides thereof to the edge of the sponge.

The fabric backing member 3l may be made from canvas, or any other suitable material and is preferably cemented to the slot and to the top of the sponge, The backing member may extend beyond the lateral edges of the sponge around cords or rubber bumpers 32 at its opposite ends, and may be sewed adjacent the inner margins of the cords or bumpers to enclose the cords or bumpers and position them beyond the edges of the mop, and form a protecting means therefor. The backing member 3l may then extend over the top of the fabric toward the center thereof. Longitudinally extending fastening strips 33-33 may be cemented between the layers of the fabric, to form a means for securing the sponge to the hinge plates 11 and 12.

The strips 33-33 may be made from metal or any other suitable material, and have longitudinally spaced threaded members 34-34 extending upwardly therefrom. The threaded members 34-34 extend through the overlapping fabric and through suitable apertured portions in the mop plates 1l and 12 and have knurled nuts 35-35 threaded on the outer ends thereof. The nuts 35. 35 abut the tops of the plates il and i2 to secure the mop clement thereto. The arrangement of the strips 33 33 is such that tightening of the nuts 35-35 drtw-.f's the mop clement into engagement with the concave inner sides of the mop plates ll and l2 adjacent their outer margins, but allows a certain freedom of movement between said mop element and the concave inner side of said mop plate, adjacent the hinged portion thereof, to aid in relieving the mop element from excessive strain during the wringing operation and to allow lloating movement of the interior of said mop element adjacent the hinge, to avoid any tendency to pull the mop d element away from the mop plates 11 and 12 when wringing the mop.

While the fabric 31 is shown as being one piece sewed around the cords 32-32, which form end bumpers for the mop it need not be in one piece and may be made in two or more pieces, with the cords 32-32 sewed to either the upper or lower pieces thereof.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a simplified form of hinge type wringer mop has been provided, so arranged as lto relieve the mop element from congestion and excessive internal stresses at the hinge of the mop and squeezing all of the water toward the outer edges of the mop when wringing, and thus enabling the mop to be squeezed substantially dry in a simple operation.

It may further be seen that a simple link and lever arrangement is provided to facilitate wringing of the mop without bending over, and avoiding the usual multiplicity of links and levers heretofore used to position the wringing lever adjacent the operator, and that the operating means for wringing the mop is within the lateral limits of the mopping element when the mop plates are in an extended position, placing the wringing mechanism in such relation that it will not interfere with the mopping operation.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mop including a mop head having a mop element comprising a block of compressible material secured thereto, a handle extending from said mop head, said mop head including two elongated concave-convex mop plates, hinge means pivotally connecting adjacent sides of said mop plates together for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the mop head intermediate the sides thereof and including a hinge pin extending longitudinally of the mop plates, each of said mop plates having a portion of the mop element recessed within the concave portions thereof, securing means extending along said mop element at laterally 'spaced points and securing said mop element to `said mop plates adjacent the outer sides thereof, but leaving the central portion of said mop element relatively free from said mop plates, and said mop element having a longitudinally extending recessed portion recessing said hinge means and hinge pin beneath the top surface of said mop element, and the portions of said plates adjacent said hinge means and hinge pin moving away from the mop element during the wringing operation and relieving the mop element adjacent said hinge means from congestion and excessive pressure during wringing thereof.

2. A mop including two elongated mop plates having inner hinged portions and a hinge pin extending through said hinged portions and pivotally connecting said mop plates together, a handle secured to and extending from one of said mop plates, means secured to the other of said mop plates within the lateral limits thereof and operable to pivotally move said mop plates about said hinge pin toward and from each other, said mop plates each being of a concave-convex form in transverse section and the concave portions thereof forming two arcuate recesses on opposite sides of said hinged portions, a mop element comprising an elongated block of compressible material, means detachably securing said mop element to the concave recessed portions of said mop plates at points spaced closer to the outer than the inner margins thereof, said mop element having a recess extending longitudinally therealong and having said hinged portions extending therein beneath the top surface of said mop element when said mop plates are in extended relation with respect to each other, and said hinged portions and hinge pin moving away from said mop element to relieve'said mop element adjacent said hinged portions upon pivotal movement of said mop plates toward each other to wring the mop element.

3. A mop including two elongated mop platesmeans pivotally connecting said mop plates together for wringing movement, a handle socket secured to and extending from one of said mop plates and having a handle extending therefrom, means partially recessed within the said handle socket and secured to the other of said mop plates for moving said plates in a direction to Wring the mop, said plates each being of a concave-convex form in transverse section and the concave portions thereof forming two arcuate recesses on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of said plates, a mop element comprising a block of compressible material secured to said recessed portions of said mop plates at points spaced laterally from the pivotal axis thereof and adjacent the outer margins thereof, said mop element being longitudinally separated intermediate its sides for a portion of its thickness and having the means for pivotally connecting said plates together reces-sed therein beneath the top surface thereof and affording relief for said mop element and relieving said mop element from excessive pressures adjacent said connecting means during the wringing operation thereof.

4. A mop including two `elongated mop plates, a hinge pin pivotally `connecting adjacent sides of said plates together, a handle socket secured to and Iextending from one of said plates, means partially recessed within the base of said handle socket and connected to the other of said mop plates, for moving said plates in a wringing direction and for holding said plates in extended relation, said plates each being of a concave-convex form in transverse section, the concave portions thereof forming two arcuate recesses on opposite sides of said hinge pin, a mop element secured to the recessed portions of said mop plates and having a slotted portion extending therealong and recessing said hinge pin within said mop element, said plates each curving about a relatively large radius of curvature toward their outer sides and curving about a shorter radius of curvature adjacent their adjacent sides and positioning .said hinge pin to move away from said mop element during wringing of the mop, and relieving the central portion of said mop adjacent said plates from excessive internal pressures.

5. In a mop, a mop element formed from a block of compressible cellulose material, a mop head having a handle extending therefrom, said mop head comprising two elongated mop plates, interleaving at their adjacent sides, a hinge pin pivotally connecting the interleaving portions of said plates together, said plates each being of a concave-convex form in transverse section, the concave portions thereof forming two arcuate recesses 4on opposite sides of said hinge pin, said mop lelement being secured to the recessed portion-s of said mop plates and having a slotted portion extending therealong and recessing said hinge pin within said mop element, said plates each curving about a relatively large radius of curvature toward their outer sides and curving about a shorter radius of curvature adjacent their adjacent sides and positioning said hinge pin and interleaving sides of said mop plates to move away from said mop `element during wringing of the mop, and relieving the central portion of -said mop element adjacent said mop plates from excessive internal pressures.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 603,999 Ballam May 10, 1899 1,551,668 Johnson Sept. 1, 1925 2,044,075 J-elenfy June 16, 1936 2,204,806 Lorenz et al June 18, 1940 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,288,647 Reynolds July 7, 1942 2,313,787 Vaughn Mar. 16, 1943 2,449,281 Dalton Sept. 14, 1948 2,486,102 Berndsen Oct. 25, 1949 2,594,553 Greenleaf et al Apr. 29, 1952 2,646,587 Sjoblom July 28, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 396,469 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1933 963,749 France Jan. 12, 1950 

